Synthesis of Os Hydride Complexes Supported by the Diarylamido/Bis(phosphine) PNP Ligand and Attempts at Using (PNP)Ru and (PNP)Os Complexes in C-H Borylation Catalysis

This manuscript describes the synthesis of Os complexes supported by the diarylamido/bis(phosphine) PNP pincer ligand. Compound (PNP)OsH(CO) (3-Os) was prepared by analogy with the previously reported 3-Ru. However, attempts to make (PNP)OsH3 (4-Os) analogously to 4-Ru resulted in the formation of an unexpected compound (5-Os) that is a product of addition of a BH3 unit across the Os-N bond in 4-Os. Nonetheless, 4-Os was prepared via an alternative route. Unlike 4-Ru, 4-Os appears to be a classical trihydride. Compounds 3-Ru, 3-Os, 4-Os, 4-Ru, and 5-Os were tested as potential catalysts for (a) dehydrogenative borylation of terminal alkynes (DHBTA) and (b) dehydrogenative borylation of benzene. No catalytic C-H borylation was observed for any of them, but all of them catalyzed unselective hydroboration of 4-MeC6H4CCH.